Combined can-opener and fruit-jar clamp.



No. 731,034. PATENTED JUNE-16, 1903.

J. R. FRETWELL.

COMBINED CAN OPENER AND FRUIT JAR CLAMP.

APPLICATION nun 001222, 1902.

no 1101121.. QSHEETS-SHEET 1.

by Z I l PATENTED JUNE 16,1903.

J. a. FRBTWgLL. COMBINED CAN OPENER AND FRUIT JAR CLAMP.

APPLIOATIOK FILED OUT. 22. 1802.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES JOHN BABY FRETWELL,

OF CEDAR CITY, UTAH.

COMBINED CAN-OPENER AND FRUIT-JAR CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters :Patent No. 731,034, dated June 16, 1903. Application filed October 22, 1902. Serial No. 128,337. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that 1, JOHN RABY FRET ELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cedar City, in the county of Iron and State of Utah, have invented a new and useful Combined Can-Opener and Fruit-Jar Clamp, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of the invention is tol provide an improved form of can-opener'of;

simple and economical construction which may be employed for opening cans of any size and which may also be used as a holdingclamp for fruitjars or the like when the screw-caps are to be placed in position or removed therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can-opener which may be quickly adjusted for the reception of cans of any size and in which a pair of cuttin g-blades are em: ployed for the purpose of making either a horizontal or a verticalcut at the will of the operator.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointedout in-the claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of a portion of the adjustable knife-carrier. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the adjustable block for connecting the centering-bar to the supportingpost. 7

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts. throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The various members of the can-opener are supported by a base-plate 1, having a depending bracket or arm 2, provided with a thread ed opening for the passage of a clampingscrew 3, by which the device may be secured in position on a table or other support, and if necessary securing-screws may be passed through the base-plate if the can-opener is to be permanently fastened in place. To the ,ba'se-plateis secured a segmental clampingjaw 4 and a segmental plate 5, the latter being provided with a threaded opening for the reception of the adjusting-screw 6 and being further provided with suitable openings for the passage of guide-rods 7 The inner end of the screw 6 is swiveled to a movable clamping-jaw 8 of a shape similar to that of the fixed jaw 4, and the inner ends of the guide-rods 7 are permanently secured to said movable jaw and act in connection with the screw to properly guide said movable jaw. The two plates which form the jaw members are curved in such manner as to enable them to receive and clamp upon cans of any ordinary size, and square or oblong cans may be securedin position as well as ihe ordinary round can in common use.

To the base is secured a vertically-disposed post 10, having vertical ribs and grooves, said post being-further held and supported by a lug 11, extending rearwardly on the fixed jaw member 4. The post is adapted for the reception of ablock 12, having a post-receiving opening of a shape corresponding to the contour of the post, the ribs and grooves of the post and block interfitting and preventing rotary movement of said block when clamped in place by the screw 13, adapted to a threaded opening 13 in the block, while adjustment is permitted by releasing thescrew and turning the block in any desired position of circumferential adjustment. The block is further provided with an angular opening 14 for the reception of a centerin g-bar 15, which may be freely adjusted and then looked in adjusted position by a set-screw 1G. The centering- -bar is provided with adepending rod 17, having a lower head 18, which may be moved into contact with the center of the top of the can without regard to the shape or size of said can, thepostand block permitting vertical movement to any extent to accommodate cans of different height, while the horizontal adjustment of the bar 15 permits the'us'e of the device in connection with cans of any diameter.

On the depending rod 17 is pivoted the inner end of a rectangular bar 19, the rod being of sufficient length to permit limited vertical movement of said bar. On the bar 19 is that a broken or dull blade may be readilyremoved and replaced. At the outer end of the centering-bar 15 is a depending hook 27,- adapted for the support of the knife-carrying handle when the device is not in use.

In operation a can is placed between the fixed and movable jaws and the latter isv forced against the can by a screw 6, the

threads of the latter being preferably of quick f pitch in order that the can may be quickly: The block 12 is then low-f ered and the centering-bar 15 is adjusted longitudinally until the head 18 of the depending rod 17 is in contact with or immedi If the Y can is to be decapitated the horizontal knife secured in place.

ately above the center of the can-top.

25 is thrust through the side of the can by sliding the handled knife-carrying sleeve in- 1 wardly until the blade is fully entered. The

operation is generally started at a point close to one side of the post 10, the vertical seam in the side of the can being placed adjacent to the post, so that the cutting-knife may be freely turned around to the opposite side of the can without necessitating the cutting of the overlapping seam portion. If the crown is to be cut out of a can, the vertical knife 24 is used, the rod 17 permitting sufficient vertical movement of the rod and knife-car-- rying sleeve to permit the entrance of the knife into the top of the can.

The device may be employed for opening cans of any size or shape within the limits of the apparatus, and by properly manipulating the knife-carrying sleeve 2. square can may be decapitated. The device is also useful during, the operation of placing the screw-caps of fruit jars on the tops of heated jars or the removal of the caps. When used as a fruitjar clamp, the block 12 is removed from the post and a piece of cloth or other material is placed within the jaws to prevent the break- The.

ing of the jar as the jaws close thereon. jar may be firmly clamped in position and the cap screwed on or off with but little difficulty.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination in a can-opener, of the fixed and movable can-clampingjaws, a vertically-disposed supporting-post, ablockcarried thereby and adjustable vertically of the post, an adjustable centering-bar carried .by

said block, a cutter-bar having a pivoted connection with the inner end of said centeringbar, and a handled cutting-knife adjustable longitudinally of said cutter-bar.

2. The combination in a can-opener, of the can-clamping jaws, a grooved post, a block on the post and adjustable with respect to the post, an adjustable centering-bar carried by the block, and provided at its inner end with a vertically-arranged pivot-rod, a cutter-bar pivoted on said rod, a handled sleeve carried by and adjustable longitudinally of the cutter-bar, and a cutting-knife carried by said sleeve.

3. The combination in a can-opener, of the can-clamping jaws, a vertical post, a vertically-adjustable block carried by the post, a centering-bar carried by and adjustable with respect to the block, means'fo'r locking the centering-bar to said. block, a depending rod carried by the centering-bar and having a lower head adapted for contact with the center of the can-top, a bar pivoted on said rod, a handled sleeve adjustable on the bar, and a pair of cutting-knives carried by the sleeve and disposed at an angle to each other.

4. The .combination in a can-opener, of the clamping-jaws, a vertically-disposed post, a block carried by and adjustable on the post, means for locking the block in adj ustcd position, a centering-bar carried by the block, a depending rod disposed at the inner end of the centering-rod and having a lower head adapted for contact with the center of the can-top, an angular bar pivoted on the rod and movable vertically with respect thereto, a handled. knife-carrying sleeve adjustable horizontally on said bar, means for locking the sleeve in adjusted position, and a supporting-hook carried bythe end of the centering-bar and adapted to receive the handle. 5. The combination with the base, of a fixed segmental jaw, a movable segmental jaw, a curved plate secured to the base and provided with guiding-openings, pins secured to the movable jaw and extending through said guidingopenings, a screw swiveled to the movable jawand adapted toa threaded opening in said plate, a vertical post rising from the base-plate and partly supported by the fixed jaw, a block adjustable vertically on said post, a set-screw for locking said block in position, a centering-bar carried by the block and having at its rear end a dependent pivotrod, and a cutter-bar pivoted on said rod.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN BABY FRETWELL. WVitnesses:

B. F. KNELL, JAMES THORNTON. 

